JACKSON, MI – A new fast-food chain is coming to Jackson, but one that shouldn't be completely unfamiliar to long-time residents.

Rally's Hamburgers franchisee Paul Amell, who owns several Rally's in metro Detroit, is planning to open one in Jackson at 1095 N. Wisner St., former site of Tim Horton's Cafe.

The Rally's Hamburgers is tentatively scheduled to open in October. It will employ 20 to 30 people, including a five- to six-member management team.

There was previously a Rally's Hamburgers in Jackson at 3040 E. Michigan Ave. from 1994 to 1999.

Rally's Hamburgers merged with Checkers in 1999 – the company still operates restaurants under both names but the product and experience are identical, which is something Jennifer Durham, the Vice President of Franchise Development, feels will make the Rally's experience completely different from the one Jackson residents may remember.

"When I started in 2001, we were still going through the process of merging," Durham said. "We found both brands and companies had their own strengths, so we leveraged those strengths and brought them together to create a much stronger company."

Durham cited Rally's innovative menu, which includes items such as cheesesticks, funnel cakes, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and chicken wings, and late-night hours as things that set it apart from its burger-and-fry competitors.

Durham also noted Amell was one of the company's top franchisees. In fact, he was named the Rally's/Checkers franchisee of the year for 2012, the same year his son, Jason, was named the company's general manager of the year.

According to QSR Magazine, Rally's/Checkers was 35th among fast-food chains with $696.9 million in sales nationwide in 2012. McDonald's was first with $35.6 billion, with Subway second with $12.1 billion.

There are currently 60 Rally's Hamburgers and Checkers in Michigan and approximately 800 nationwide. The closest to Jackson are approximately 35 to 40 miles away in Adrian, Charlotte, Lansing and Battle Creek.